Transcript

of

Nicholas Samuel Heineken (Obituary)

Trans. Devon. Assoc., 1876, Vol VIII, pp. 64-65.

by

Rev. W. Harpley

Prepared by Michael Steer

In October 1831, a long iron bar resembling a giant corkscrew was used to raise the coffin of an eight-year-old child, named Isaac Bamfield, from its grave. This tool was later seized and displayed in the belfry for three weeks before being incorporated into the church lych gate as the upright bolt. The culprits were, allegedly, two respectable Sidmouth doctors, Hodge and Jeffrey, helped by a labourer called Jack Franklin. Hearsay implied that Hodge was the instigator with Jeffrey, his accomplice. The men were discovered in the act of raising the coffin. The remainder of this bizarre body-snatching story featuring Dr Hodge is presented in Country Smallholding. His fulsome obituary was presented at the June 1884 Association meeting at Newton Abbot. The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.
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Benjamin Terry Hodge, M.R.C.S., and a Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians, was the representative in the third generation of a race of influential medical practitioners in Sidmouth. In the time of the grandfather, at the commencement of the present century, that watering-place was rising into repute as a health resort for the invalid, and it reached its height of fashion and fame on the arrival of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Kent, on the 24th of December, 1819, with the infant Princess Victoria (1) then seven months old, and now her present majesty. Mr. Hodge, the grandfather, had a brother, who was a surgeon at Ottery. The father, who stood in the place of the second generation, whose practice extended beyond the town of Sidmouth over a large area in the neighbourhood, is still remembered by many of the older inhabitants. He left two sons, both brought up to the medical profession, and a daughter, who married Mr. Bath.

Benjamin, the subject of the present memoir, went through the usual course of studies with credit and success. He graduated at London University, and on returning and settling in his native town, the practice at one period was carried on simultaneously with his brother, but eventually he became the sole medical representative of his family. He married, firstly, Miss Hare, who gave him one daughter, who survives him; and, secondly, he married Mrs. Phillips. He was thoroughly devoted to his profession, and pursued it as a scientific study, upon the higher and nobler grounds of investigation into the obscure but important laws that regulate health on the one hand, and disease on the other, thereby reducing those pursuits to the principles of a cherished science. With this constitution of mind, and with a deep knowledge of the anatomy of the human frame, he became a skilful operator ; and being a man of great nerve, he performed many difficult and dangerous operations with entire success. Though occasionally somewhat abrupt in his manner, he had the welfare of his patients entirely at heart ; and as a medical man attached to the Dispensary in the town, he was much loved by the poor who resorted to him for advice, whereby many acts of kindness and generosity to them are current amongst those who now regret his loss. In his hours of relaxation he was fond of sport with the rod and the gun, so that when he could get relief from the duties of his profession he was a zealous and an active sportsman.

He was an advanced Mason; the study of the craft he followed up with his characteristic ardour; and so great was his knowledge of the Order of the Temple, and so extensive his research, that he was appointed one of the six of the chivalric Christian Order to revise and rewrite the ritual for the ceremonies and for the services. By His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales he was appointed a K.C.T., or Knight Commander of the Temple.

He died at Sidmouth on the 20th of September, 1883, and was interred on the 24th in the family vault, on the north side of the tower of the parish church, when an amount of sympathy was manifested by such a numerous attendance as was never witnessed in Sidmouth before.

He joined the Association in 1873.

Reference 

(1)     This and the preceding note were kindly contributed by Mr. P. O. Hutchinson.